Tree Identification Book : A New Method for the Practical Identification and Recognition of Trees

Occasionally I get a chance to show this book to some other tree nut. Their first reaction is "Oh, yeah, I have a great tree book too." Then we take a mystery twig and see which book is best. Without fail, this book is quicker and easier. The next thing the tree nut is saying is, "hey let me see that book." The next thing I know I'm back on this Amazon page buying a copy to send them...This book is a masterpiece. It is arranged so that you can take a single sign (twig, leaf, bark, etc.) and use pictorial keys to quickly narrow your search to a positive identification of a mystery tree. Sometimes you need to check additional signs, but often times the twig with a leaf or bloom that you bring back from a walk is all you need for a positive identification.I have had my copy since 1975 and it has never let me down as I have lived in Virginia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and points in between. The copyright date is 1958. I don't know anything about George Symonds, but he had that rare knack for making a potentially confusing and complicated topic pleasurably accessible to the average person.This is NOT a coffee table book. It does NOT fit in your pocket. It has NO color photos. This 8.5 x 11-inch black and white volume does have incredibly clear and useful photos of all the keys. Unlike those puny photos and drawings in a pocket guide, these photos are full or one-half scale, or carefully referenced (for example bark photos include a ruler in the image). It has no stuffy writing, just the essential information in completely accessible form.The result is a low-tech looking book that blows the doors off of any other tree ID book I have ever seen.

The builder of my community made it a point to plant one of every different tree. I could identify some but not others; this books helps me identify trees by bark, leaf, flower, fruit, and manner of growth. I find it a wonderful reference.

Having used a number of feild guides with resulting frastration I found this book very useful and well worth the modest price. There is a hardback available for a much higher price that would not have been worth it as a reference tool. But, I was able to quickly narrow the scope of my search for identification of a "mystery" tree in my yard. The species was not in the book, but the genus was and that allowed me to utilize Internet resources to get the exact species nailed down. I also like the fact that the book covers identification from a number of angles - leaves, flowers, fruit, bark, and twigs. As a novice, this was instructive to me. The fact that the pictures are in black and white is not a major draw back inasmuch as they are good quality. It is clearly not a stand alone reference, but is a useful tool, especially when combined with what is now available on the Internet.

I bought this book when I was training to be a Master Gardener. I used it constantly during the pandemic, when I set myself the task of identifying trees. And I use it still to identify an unknown tree flower, twig or seeds. Especially good for identifying acorns and pine needles.

"Trees of North America" has excellent illustrations organized / grouped with species most similar making comparisons and distinctions easy without turning back and forth between pages. The font is a bit small for aging eyes but photographs of vegetative and reproductive structures are great.This is a repurchase of an old friend for me - I used this book for years in teaching and I guess students found it valuable enough that my copy disappeared, actually more than once.HBR

A few weeks ago a customer in my wood turning shop saw my collection of books on trees and the new ones I sell along with Easy Wood Tools. Then he asked if I had seen George Symonds' book. To enhance my acquaintance with the author the man went to his car and brought his copy in. I ordered a copy online but the seller sent the wrong Symonds book...on shrub identification. I wrote the seller to tell them I would keep it anyway and to let them know to adjust their inventory. They refunded my purchase and told me to keep the book. Then I found and bought a new copy of the tree identification book. Both books are outstanding additions to my library and great tools to have to improve my professional skill. Thank you My. Symonds!

I have had 6 copies of this book each seems to disappear, I used to loan it out. It is just such an easy ID book you can't miss the ID. I especially like the buds and seeds sections great for no leaf ID.

Sorry but these images looked like they were bad photocopies in B+W. No way I could use them to distinguish one tree from another.